When the Philistine had sized David up, and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance, he held David in contempt. The trope of David and Goliath is perennial. Think of Frodo vs. Sauron or Harry Potter vs. Voldemort or Dorothy vs. the Wicked Witch. The small, seemingly insignificant character is able to overcome the dangerous and powerful one. This is not limited to literature. Malcolm Gladwell has a whole book of historical examples such as the children of Birmingham overcoming Bull Conner. In our time the goliaths of division and discord are daunting and we can feel that there is nothing we can do to make a difference. All David had was five smooth stones — what is something we can do?
